Wire-cutting machine.



C. E. PETHEROLF. WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED JULY 14.1910.

1,048,141 Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. E. PBTHBROLP. WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14.1910.

Panted M124, 1912.

5 SHEETS--SHEBT 2,

U. E. PETHEROLP.

wml CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 'FILED JULY 14, 1&)10

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3v @Mii/kudos zo C. E. FETHEROLF.

WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULI' I4, 1910.

1,048,141 vPatented Dec. 24, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. E. PETHEROLP. WIREiCUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1-1. 1910.

1,048,141 Patented Deo. 24. 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5, 31

FIEKD W M32 54 Q UNrrnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FETHEROLF, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIG'NOR TO `THE JEFFREY-MANU-'FACT-URING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WIRE-Gunfire MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Patented Dec.24,1912.

Application led July 14, 1919. Serial No. 572,016.`

l To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FE'rHnR- 0LF,^a citizen of the UnitedStates, resldmg at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Tire-CuttingMachines, of which the following is a speciication, reference being hadtherein to .the accompanying drawin This invention relates toimprovements in machines for straightening and cutting wire, and isespecially 'adapted for use in connect-ion with flat insulated wireVsuch as is used for the armature windings ofdynamos and motors.Machines embodying my invent-ion are, however, equally well adapted forstraightening and cutting other kinds of wire. Y

Among the objects of my invention are to Vprovide improved means forfeeding the wire, improved means for cutting it, improved means forregulating the length of the cut sect-ions, and improved means for'actuating and controlling the feeding and cutting means. Otherobjectswill lowing specification.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this speciiication, Ihave shown the embodiment of my invention which I at present prefer. Itwill be understood, however, that various changes in construct-ion andin arrangement of parts appear from the folmay be made wit-hin the scope'of my inven? tlon.

Of the drawings-Figure .1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan'view.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, showing theshearing mechanism and the operating devices therefor. Fig. 4 is a viewpartly in cross section, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is afragmentary cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.Fig. 6 is a detailplan view of the main controlling switch. Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the controlling switch and the parts adjacent thereto.Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.Fig. 9 is across sectional view taken along t-he line 9--9 of Fig. 6.Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view take-n along the line 10-10 of Fig. 2.Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view. showing the electrical connections. Fig..12 is a detailed view of the upper feed roll shifting device.

tal plane.

. `Adjacent the machine is a standard 5 havlng a spindle 6 upon whichmay be mounted a spool 7 having wire wound upon it.I

' Mounted upon thevbed plate 2 of the machine is a wire straightener,indicated as a whole by 9. This comprises a suitable support 9a uponwhich there is mounted a plurality of horizontal rollers 10 which, onaccount of their relative arrangement, are adapted to straighten thewire in a horizon- In advence of the rollers 1() are two verticalrollers 12 mounted on stationary spindles and a third vertical roller 13mounted upon a spindle which is vertically adjustable by means of ascrew 14. By means of this screw 14 the straightener may be adjusted inaccordance with the stiffness or curvature of the wire upon which it isoperating.

18 is a shaft rotatably mounted in the pedestals. 15 and 16 and thebearing bracket 17. 19 is a driving pulley freely mounted on the shaft18, Connected with the pulley 19 and adapted to rotate with itis a spurgear 20 and the driving element 21 of an electromagnet-ic clutch whichwill be lnore 'fully described hereafter.

22 represents the' driven element of the clutch and is `keyed to theshaft 18.

Parallel to and directly above the shaft 18 is a rotatable shaft 23mounted at one end in a bearing 16 which is pivotally mounted on t-hepedestal 16, and at the other end in a bearing 15l1 whichis slidablymounted in the pedestal 15. The shaft 23 is driven from the vshaft 18 bymeans of a pair of spur gears 24.

Feed rollers 25 and 26 are secured .to the ends of the shafts 18 and 23and are adapted to engage with the upper and lower sides of the wirewhich is designated in the drawings by 8. The feed rollers 25 and 26 arein line with the straightening 'rollers and with the spool 7 and areadapted to grip the wire 8 to draw it from the spool between thestraightening rollers. The outer end of the shaft 23 is verticallymovable. The screw 31, acting through t-he spring 31a serves to maintaina pressure on the bearing 15a, and to this force the roller 26 againstt-he upper surface of the wire. A lever 15br is provided for lifting.the roller 26 in order to facilitate the threading of wire through themachine when a new spool of wire is putin place. The wire passes fromthe feed yrollers through `the tubular guide 27 between the jaws 28 and29 of the shearing device and into the guide-way 30 of the measuringde.- vice 30.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, itwill be noted that the stationary jaw 28 of the shearing device isformed as a part of the casting 28L which is attached to the bed plate2. The movable jaw 29 of the shearing device is formed on a member 29awhich is mounted on a pivot 33 journaled in a bearing in the cast-ing28a and held in place by lock nuts 34. At the rear part of the member29HL thereis formed an arm 35 which carries a roller 3G mounted on anaxis at right angles to the pivot 33.

40 is a shaft parallel to the shaft 18 and rotatably mounted in bearings41 and 42 which are secured to the bed plate 2. The shaft 40 is drivenfrom the pulley 19 by means of the gear wheel 44 which meshes with thegear wheel 20 and by means of a magnetic clutch, one member of which,43, 'is attached to the gear wheel 44, and the other member of which,39, is attached to t-he shaft. This clutch will be hereinafter describedin detail.

Secured to the shaft 40 is a cam 38 which is adapted to engage thepulley 36 on the arm 35. The pulley is maintained in engagement with thecam by means of the spring 37 which acts through the rod 37. The tensionof the spring may be adjusted by means of the nut 37b on the rod 37a. Itwill be noted that the cam 38 is frustocono-idal in shape so that therewill be Pfull engagement with the roller for all positions. The shearmember 29 is provided with a downward extending arm 45 which is providedwith a laterally extending pin 46.

48 is a lever pivoted to the bed plate 2 atV 49, and provided with alongitudinal slot 47 through which the pin 46 passes.

54 is a shaft rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the brackets 56which are mounted on the tubular extension 3 of the bed plate 2. Theshaft 54 is connected at its rear end with the upper end of the lever 48by means of an arm 53 and a link 51, the link being connected with thearm and with the lever 48 at 52 and 50 respectively. It will be notedthat by means of the system of levers and links-which has beendescribed, the shaft 54 will be rocked back and forth through a smallangle at each actuation of they shear. A

llhe measuring device comprises a guideway30 which consists of astationary bar 55 having in its bottom a groove 55a. The bar 55 issupported on the brackets 56. A bar 58 serves as a Hoor for the grooveor trough 55a and is mounted by means of brackets l59 on the shaft 54.The wire to be cut is fed by. the rollers 25 and 26 into the groove 55a.The connections between the shearing device and the shaft 54 are suchthat as the shear is moved the floor 58 drops and ermits the severedsection of wire to fall 1nto racks 57 which are secured to the brackets56.

61 is an endless steel tape or belt which passes over the rollers 62 and63 which are mounted at the ends of the bar 55. The trough 55a isprovided at its upper part with two opposite laterally extending grooveswhich are adapted to receive the lower strand of the tape 61.Permanently secured to the tape 61 is a depending lug or stop 64 whichis adapted to entirely close the passageway through the trough 55a. stopis most clearly shown in Fig. 7. At a convenientpoint along the bar 55there is provided an electric controller switchwhich 'is mounted upon aplate 67.v The plate 67 is provided with a depending bearing boss 66 inwhich there is rotatably mounted a vertical shaft 68, upon the lower endof which there is a-bevel pinion 69 adapted to mesh with a bevel gear7() on the shaft 54. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 68 is a head71 having a finger 72.

74 is a switch blade rotatably mounted ofi the shaft 68 between the head71 and the plate 67. At one side the blade 74 is provided with a notch77 adapted to be engaged by a pivotally mounted latch 78. A spring 79tends to hold the latch in engagement with the notch.

is a clamp 'adapted to be secured to the lupper strand of the tape 61 atany desired point.

guide-way 82 for the clamp. This guideway is provided with a slotthrough which extends a depending pin 82 which is adapt- -ed to engagethe latch 78 to release it from The plate 67 is provided with a thenotch 77. A spring 76 attached at one end to the pin 75 on the plate 67and at the iother end to the upper part of the pin 73 is secured to theswitch blade 74. When the latch 78 releases the switch blade the spring76 immediately moves it into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig.6.

84 is an insulated plate mounted upon theswitch blade 74 and carries aContact plate 83.

87 and 90 are stationary insulating blocks secured to the plate 67. Theblock 90 is provided with lingers 88 and 89 adapted to engage the`contact plate -83 when the switch arm is in one position, and the block87 isl provided with .contact fingers 85 and 86 adapted to engage thecontact plat-e when the switch arm is in the other posit-ion.

The operation of the switch is as follows: When the `end of the wire tobe cut engages the stop 64 it moves t-he tape 61 andwith it the pin 81 asufiicient distance to disengage the latch 78 from the notch 77. Thespring 76 immediately throws the switch arm into the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 6, the circuitI being thus broken through thelingers 88 and 89 and established through the fingers 85 and 86. Assoonl as the wire has been cut off it is dropped by the floor 58 and inthis way the stop 64 is released. The spring 79 immediately tendstoreturn the latch 78 and with it the tape 61 to their originalpositions. The same movement'of the shaft 54 which releases the wirefrom the trough also actuates thevshaft G8 which, by means of the finger72 and the pin 73, re-

` t-urns the switch arm 74 to its original position. l p I have foundfrom experience that occasionally the wire will foul and work its wayout. between the door 58 and the bot tom of the bar 55. 'When thisoccurs, the wire, of course, fails to engage the stop 64 andthecontrolling switch is not operated. In order to prevent this difficultyI provide contacts 97 and 99 which are connected into the electricalcircuit of the machine in a Y manner hereinafter to be set forth. Thecontact 99 is secured to the door 58, and the contactl 97 is preferablyin the form of a screw adjustable in the lug 98. The two contacts are sopositioned relative to each other that when the door 58 is fully closed,electric connection will be established through the contacts. vWhen thedoor is partly'open, as is the. case when a wire is between it and thelower surface of the bar 55, electrical connection is broken.

I will now describe somewhat more in detail the electric clutches whichhave been heretofore mentioned. These clutches are similar inconstruction and itwill therefore be necessary to describe but one ofthem. Referring to Fig. 3, 43 is the driving element which is secured tothe driving` gear. rThe element 43 is provided with an annular groove inwhich there is a coil 105A which is connected, by means of wires passingthrough the insulated bushings 106 and 107, with the insulated collectorrings 108 and 109. The rings of the shear clutch are provided withcontact brushes 113 and 114 and the rings of the feed roller clutch are-provided with brushes 115 and 116. A diaphragln 112 is sprung intoannular notches in thc groove for the coil and serves to protcct thecoil against injury. A disk 112a of non-magnetic material is preferablyprovided between the elements 39 and 43 to 117 represents as a whole aswitch-board i which is mounted on the bed plate 2 by means ofsuitablebraces 118. The switchboard carries a number of incandescentlamps 119 which are connected in parallel and which are used asa'rheostat to regulate the voltage'of the current supplied tothemachine. T wo snap switches 120 are provided to control the circuits,and two carbon resistance pencils 121 shunt the coils of the clutches toguard the insulation@ against puncture by the inductive kick.

Attached tothe shear arm 35 is a clip 122 to which is'connected a rod123 which engages with an automat-ic counter 124. This counter may be ofany desired construction,

but I prefer to use a counter which is provided with means forinterrupting the electric circuit after a certain predetermined` numberof actuations. In this way the machine may be adapted for the cutting ofa definite number of wires and for automatically stopping after thisdefinite numberhas v been cut.

I prefer to provide the shaft 23 with a pulley 125 over which passes abelt 126 which engages asuitable groove127 formed ,on the spool 7. Inthis way the spool 7 is positively moved and the tension on the wire 8is reduced. 4 y

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, I provide electrical contact devices on t-heshear arm 35.

Mounted upon opposite sides of the shear arm ,are two insulating blocks91 and 92 carrying contact plates 93 and 94, respectively. A pair ofcontact fingers 95 are provided to engage with the contact plate 93 whenthe shear arm is in its lower position. A pair of Contact fingers 96 areprovided to engage with the contact plate 94 when the p shear arm is inits raised position.

The electrical connections will be understood from a study of Fig. 11.'Current is'- led to the machine from the elements 119 and passesthrough one of the switches 120 to one of the contact fingers 95.Supposing the shear to be in its normal position, the arm 35 will bedepressed and contact will be established by the plate 93 between thetwo ngers95. Supposing the cont-rolling switch to be in its normalposition, contact will be established between the fingers 88 and 89bythe plate 83. Suppe-sing the door 58- to be in its closed position,connection will be established between the contacts 99 and 97.

128 designates the circuit breaking device connected with the counter,and for present purposes this can be considered as closed. The currentthen passes through the circuit which has been described to the clutch21 which serves to rotate the shaft 18 and the feed rollers 25 and 2G.The feed rollers continue to o-perate until the end of the wire engagesthe stop 64, whereupon the controlling switch is actuated andthe circuitis broken between the finger-S88 and 89 and `established between thefingers 85 and 86.

The clutch 21 is thus denergized and the feed rollers stop. Theclutch 43is energized and the shear is act-uated. rIhe operation of thecontrolling switch is quiterapid and in order to prevent the transfer ofcurrent from the clutch 43 to the clutch 21 before the shearingoperation is complete, I provide the -addi'tional contacts 95 and 96. Assoon as the movement of the shear is started, the circuit is brokenbetween the contacts 95, and established between the contacts 96. Inthis way the current to the clutch 43 is maintained until the completionof the shearing operation, regardless of. the action of the controllingswitch, and in the same way the current is cut off from the clutch 21until the shear has reached its inoperative position. When thepropernumber ofv wires have been cut, the counting device breaks the circuitat 128 and the operation of the feed rollers is stopped.

What I claim is:

1. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a wire feedingmechanism, a wire cutting mechanism, frictional braking devices on saidmechanisms, and means in advance of the feeding mechanism and cuttingmechanism for controlling the said mechanisms, said means being adaptedto be operated b v the forward end of the wire, substantially as setforth.

2. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding and cuttingmechanism, of an endless belt adapted to operate the said feeding andcutting mechanism, and an adjustable belt actuating stop adapted to beoperated by the forward end of the wire.

3. In a wire c utting machine, the combination with a feeding andcutting mechanism, of a controlling device comprising an .endless belt,one strand of which is adjacent the path of the wire, a stop on the beltadaptedl to he engaged by the forward end of the wire to move lthe belt,and means whereby the movement of the belt controls the operation of thecutting mechanism.

et. Ina wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding and cuttingmechanism, of a controlling device comprising a wire receiving trough,an endless belt, one strand of which is adjacent the tro-ugh, a stop onthe belt and within the trough adaptedto be engaged by the forward endof the wire to move the belt, and means whereby the movement of thebeltcontrols the operation o-f the `feeding and cutting mechanism,substantially as set forth.

5. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding andcutting. mechanism, of a device comprising a wire receiving tro-ugh, anendless belt adjacent the trough, a stop secured to the belt and lyingwithin the trough, the said-stop being adapted to be engaged by the endof the wire to move the belt, a means for controlling the operation ofthe feeding and cutting mechanism, and means for connecting t-he saidcontrolling mechanisml with the belt at any desired point, substantiallyas set forth;

6. In a machine for cutting wire, the combination with a feeding andcutting mechanism, of a device comprising a wire receiving trough, anendless belt, one strand of which lies at one side of the trough, a stopmovable within the trough and secured to the said strand of the belt,the said stop being adapted to be engaged by the end of the wire, and acontrolling means for the cutting and feeding mechanism adapted to beconnected to the other strand of the belt at any desired point to adjustthe operation of the machine for cutting wires of an" desired length,substantially as set forth.`

7. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, electrically controlled operating means for the saidmechanisms, an electric switch adapted to control, the supply of currentto the said operating means, and means, whereby the switch may beoperated by the movement of the wire to be cut, substantially as setforth.

8. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a wire feedingmechanism, an electrically controlled device for operating the saidfeeding mechanism, a wire cutting mechanism, an electrically controlleddevice for operating the said cutting mechanism, an electric-switchadapted for alternately supplying current to the said operating devices,and means whereby the switch may be controlled by the movement of theend of the wire to be cut, substantially as set forth.

9. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with feeding and cuttingmechanisms, 'of a wire receiving trough having a. continuous hingedbottom, and means for moving the said bottom to release the wire when ithas been severed by the cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

10. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a wire feedingmechanism, a wire cutting mechanism, a tubular wire receiving troughhaving one continuous hinged side, means within the trough adapted forengagement by the end o1 the Wire to control the saidl cutting andfeeding mechanisms, and means for movingthe said hinged side to releasethe wire after -it as been 5 severed by the cutting mechanism,substantially as set forth. A

11. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, a wire receiving trough having a continuous hingedside, and means adapted to be controlled by engagement with the end ofthe wire for moving t-he saidhinged side to release the Wire from thetrough, substantially as set forth.

12. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, a wire receiving trough having a movable side, meansfor moving the said ,side to release the wire when it has been 'severedby the cutting mechanism, and

means connected with the said movable side for stopping the operation ofthe machine when the said sidedoes not return to normal position aftermovement, substantially as set forth. l

13. In a wire cuttingmachine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, electrical devices for controlling the saidmechanisms, a wire receiving trough having a movable side, means formoving the said side to release the wire after it has been severed bythe cuttingmechanism, two electrical contacts located respectively onthe said trough and on the said movable trough side, the said contactsbeing in engagement only when the said side is in normal closedposition, and electrical connec tions whereby the current forcontrolling the operating device for the feeding mechav nism passesthrough the said contacts, substantially as set forth.

14. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding andcutting mechanism, of a device comprising an endless belt adjacent thepath of the wire, a stop secured to the belt, the said stop beingadapted to be engaged by the end of the wireto move the belt, means forcontrolling the operation of the feeding and cutting mechanism, andconnecting means between said controlling mechanism and the belt at anydesired point.

15. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism,an operating device therefor, a cutting mechanism, an operating devicetherefor, means controlled by the end of the Wire for stopping theaction of the feeding mechanism and simultaneously starting the actionof the cutting mechanism, and means for automatically starting thefeeding mechanism after the completion ofthe operation of the cuttingmechanism, substantially as set forth.

16. In a wire cutting machine, the combinaticn of a feeding mechanism,an electrically controlled operating device therefor,l

a cutting mechanism, an electrically controlled operating devicetherefor, an electric switch normally directing current through theoperating vdevice for the feeding mechanism and adapted to be operatedby the end of the wire after it has moved a predetermined distancebeyond the cutting mechanism, the said switch being adapted todeenergize thecontrolling device for the feeding mechanism and tosimultaneously ener-- gize the controlling device for theA lcuttingmechanism, means for automatically returning the said switch to normalposition, and a supplemental switch device adapted to interrupt theconnection to the feeding mechanism controlling device and tomaintainthe connection to the cutting mechanism controlling device until thecompletion of the operation of the cutting mechanism, substantially asset forth.

17. In a machine'for cutting wire, the combination of a feedingmechanism, an electrically controlled operating device therefor, acutting mechanism, an electrically controlled operating device therefor,an' electric switch normally directing current through the operatingdevice for t-he feeding mechanism and adapted to be operated by the endof the wire after it is moved a predetermined distance beyond thecutting mechanism, the said switch being adapted to denergize thecont-rolling device yfor the feeding mechanism and to simultaneouslyenergize the controlling device for the cutting mechanism, and meansoperatively connected with the cutting mechanism and with the switch forreturning the switch to normal position as the cutting mechanismopcrates, substantially as set forth.

18. In a Wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, a movable receiving device for vthe wire, controllingmeans adapted to be operatively engaged by the end of the wire forstopping the action of the feeding mechamsm and starting the action ofthe cutting mechanism, and means operatively connected with the cuttingmechanism for moving the wire receiving device to release the ,wire andfor operating the said controlling means to stop the action of thecutting mechanism and start the action of the feeding mechanism,substantially as set forth.

19. In a Wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding mechanismand a cutting mechanism, of a movable wire receiving device, a rockshaft parallel to and sup-` porting the said receiving device, acontrolling device adapted to be operatively engaged by the end of thewire to stop the action of the feeding mechanism and start the action ofthe cutting mechanism, operative connections between the rock shaft andthe said controlling device, and operative connections between thecut-ting mechanism and the shaft whereby the shaft is rocked by themovement of the cutting mechanism to release the wire from the wirereceiving device and to operate the control` ling device to sto-p theaction of the cutting mechanism and start the action of the feedingmechanism, substantially as set forth.

20. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, a movable wire receiving device, a rock shaftparallel to the Wire receiving device upon which the said device ismounted, connections between the said rock shaft and the cuttingmechanism whereby the shaft is Vrocked upon the actuation of the cuttingmechanism to release the wire from the receiving device, substantiallyas f set forth.

21. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of two parallel shafts, afeeding mechanism operatively connected with one shaft, a cuttingmechanism operatively connected with the other shaft, two magneticclutches/ each having its driving element freely rotatable on one of theshafts, and each having its driven element secured to one of the shafts,.operative connections between the two driving elements, means foractuating the said driving elements, and electrical switch devices foralternately energizing the said driving elements to alternately actuatethe said feeding mechanism and the said cutting mechanism, substan--tially as set forth.

22. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of two rotatable shafts,a feeding mechanism operatively connected with one of them, a cuttingmechanism operatively connected with the other of them, magneticclutches, one on each of the shafts, each of the said clutches having adriving element rotatable on its shaft and a driven element secured tothe shaft, means for continuously actuating the said driving elements,automatically controlled electric switch devices for energizing anddenergizing the said clutches, and a brake device engaging each drivenclutch element to check its movement when the clutch is denergized,substantially as set forth.

23. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding device anda cutting device, of a spool adapted for holding a coil of wire, andmeans independent of the wire to be cut for rotating the said spool whenthe feeding device is in operation, substantially as set forth.

24. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a feeding device, ofa cutting device comprising a stationary shear, a pivoted movable shearprovided with an operating roller, a rotatably mounted cam adapted tooperatively engage the said relier, a continuously rotating drivingelement, and means for intermittently connecting the said rotatingelement with the said cam for rotating it, substantially as set forth.

25. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding device and acutting device comprising a shear, a rotatable cam for operating theshear, and -automatlc means for intermittently rotating the cam througha definite angle, subtstantiallyl as set forth. l

26. In a machine for cutting wire, the combination with a feeding andcutting mechanism, of an endless belt, one strand of which lies alongthe path of the wire, a stop secured to the said strandl of the belt,the said stop being adapted to be engaged by the end of the wire, and acontrolling means for the cutting and feeding mechanism adapted to beconnected to the other `strand of the belt at any desired point toadjust the operation of the machine for cutting wires of yany vdesiredlength, substantially as set forth.

27. In a wire cutting machine, the combination with a cutting device, ofa feeding device comprising a pair of rollers adapted to frictionallyengage the wire at opposite sides, means for adj ustably and yieldinglyholding one of the said rollers against the wire, and means forseparating one of the said rollers lfrom the other and for holding it inthe said separatedposition, substantially as set forth. n A

28. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a pair of parallelfreely rotatable shafts, gearing between the said shafts, wire engagingrollers mounted upon the said shafts, a magnetic clutch mounted upon oneof the said shafts and'havin its driven element secured thereto and itsriving element rotatable thereon, means for continuously rotating thedriving element, and automatic switch devices for intermittentlyactuating 'the clutch to rotate the said shafts and the said rollers,substantially as set forth.

29. lIn a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism,a cutting loo mechanism, electrically controlled operating means forsaid cutting mechanism, an electric switch adapted to control the supplyof current to the said operating means, and means whereby the switch maybe operated by the movement of the wire to be cut.

30. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, electrical devices for controlling the saidmechanisms, a wire receiving trough having a movable side, means formoving the said side to release the wire after it has been severed bythe cutting mechanism, two electrical contacts located respectively onthe said movable trough side and a fixed portion of the machine, thesaid contacts being in engagement only when the said side is in normalclosed position, and electrical conneet-ions whereby the current forcontrolling the operating devices for the feeding mecha- `nected withthe other sha nism passes through the said contacts, substantially asset forth.

3l. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of a feeding mechanism, acutting mechanism, an electrically controlledA operating device for saidcutting mechanism, an electric switch adapted to be operated by the endof the wire after it has moved a predetermined distance beyond thecutting mechanism, thelsaid switch being adapted to energize thecontrolling device for-the cutting mechanism, and means forautomatically returning the said switch to normal position.

32. In a wire cutting machine, the combination of two parallel shafts, afeeding mechanism operatively connected with one shaft, a cuttingmechanism oeratively cona magnetic clutch having its driving elementfreely-lrotatable on the cutting mechanism shaft and a driven elementsecured on said shaft, operative connections for driving the two shafts,

and an electrical-v switch device for energizing the said magneticclutch, substantially connected with the other, two clutches, one

on each of the shafts, each of said clutches having a driving elementrotatable on its `shaft anda driven element secured to the shaft, meansfor continuously actuating the said driving elements, automatically'controlled devicesv for engaging and disengagingl the said clutches,and abrake device engaging each driven clutch element to check itsmovement whenthe clutch is disengaged,

substantially as set forth.

In testimon whereof I affix my signature,

in presence o two witnesses.

CHARLES E. FETHEROLF. Witnesses:

' DUDLEY T. FISHER,

E. F. SNIVELY.

